With the Lady Gaga-market reaching oversaturation, it's easy to get a sense of fatigue when listening to her latest effort, "Born This Way."

Delivering her third studio album in just a 3-year span after a nonstop juggernaut that included a seemingly endless tour, hit after hit, countless magazine covers and even social activism, another Gaga offering is a little bit tiring to those who aren't part of her army of "little monsters."

It doesn't help that the standard edition of the album is 17 full-length tracks, clocking in at a little over two hours. A little less than a third of the way through, a "what — there's more?" feeling starts to sink in, and finishing the album seems to be a daunting task.

But "Born This Way" deserves that listen — again and again and again. Though there are a few songs that miss the mark — the Madonna-rip-off title track, for example — overall, the album, like Gaga, is hard to get out of your conscious.

"I could be girl/ unless you want to be man/ I could be sex/ unless you want to hold hands/ I could be anything/ I could be everything," coos Gaga on "Government Hooker," a wicked electro-groove that manages to be more naughty than Rihanna's "S&M" without being as explicit. It's just part of the provocation — both sexual and religious — that Gaga uses to push buttons throughout the album.

Though there are song titles like "Bloody Mary," "Judas" and "Electric Chapel," and lyrics tweak conservative mindsets, at its core, "Born This Way" is mostly an album about themes that have been written about from the beginning of pop music — love, lust and acceptance.

"Americano," with its flamenco-inspired melody, is a love song — it just happens to be about two women. "We can marry, on the West Coast, on a Wednesday," Gaga sings slyly. "Hair," like "Born This Way," is a plea for individual freedom via the follicles — "I don't want to change, I don't want to be ashamed, I'm the spirit of my hair ... I am my hair," she declares on the pop-rock groove, which sounds as if it could have emerged from the soundtrack to a 1980s teen flick.

Much of the music veers from pulsating dance grooves and the retro rock that Gaga showcased on "Fame Monster." The album's best track —"You and I" — sounds as if it could be the companion to "Speechless," another ballad similarly anchored by dominating piano chords.

Gaga, who co-wrote every tune on the record and again worked with collaborators such as RedOne and Fernando Garibay, doesn't show particular musical growth, but establishes a consistency of strong material throughout most of the disc. Lyrically, at times she still perplexes — the whirring "ScheiBe" starts off with German then segues into a female empowerment anthem — but it's those bizarre moments that are part of the Gaga-intrigue.

"Born This Way" needs a bit more editing. A smattering of tracks, like "Bad Kids" or "Black Jesus," could have been left off for a tighter disc. But it doesn't take away from its strength, and overall, it's an album that should add to Gaga's growing status as this generation's cultural icon.

___

CHECK OUT THIS TRACK: Most won't know what she's saying, and most won't care, on "ScheiBe" — the German (or is it gibberish?) that comes out of Gaga's mouth is still undeniably catchy.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Living in a box

Lady Gaga made many costume changes during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards in New York Aug. 25, 2013, but the white-box-on-her-head look was perhaps the weirdest.
(Lucas Jackson / Reuters)
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She sells sea shells

After taking off the white box-on-head outfit, Lady Gaga switched to a shell bikini, which she kept on for the rest of the 2013 VMAs.
(Lucas Jackson / Reuters)
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Lady Gaga's back

Rainbow face

The Mother Monster is seen on Aug. 12, 2013 in Los Angeles with colorful face paint that seems reminiscent of the cover art for her single "Applause."
(Jb Lacroix / Getty Images)
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Gaga shines

Wearing a long red wig and a gleaming black dress, Lady Gaga arrives for the launch of her "Fame" perfume in a horse-drawn carriage on September 14, 2012 in New York City.
(Rob Kim / Getty Images)
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Big bun

Lady Gaga shows off her recently shaved head at the launch of her "Fame" perfume at Macy's Herald Square in New York City on September 14, 2012. Her head was tattooed at the event inside of a transparent bottle made to look like her new fragrance.
(Kevin Mazur / WireImage)
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Knee-highs

The pop star arrives at Vilnius airport in Lithuania on Aug. 20, 2012 in a black crop top and short shorts with a split front skirt. She paired the look with chunky platforms and knee-highs.
(Mindaugas Kulbis / AP)
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Mellow in yellow

The songstress sports a yellow wig as she holds her dog, Fozzi, at the airport in Vienna, Austria, on Aug. 17, 2012. She toted the pooch with her around the European city.
(Andreas Pessenlehner / EPA)
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Plunging neckline

The pop diva waves upon her arrival at Gimpo International airport in Seoul, South Korea, on April 20, 2012. She wore a Versace gown with a plunging V-shape neckline and an eye mask made of pearls.
(Yang Kang-sam / AP)
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Portrait perfect

Lady Gaga poses for a portrait in her hotel suite prior to an event for her "Born this Way" foundation at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on February 29, 2012. The fashion icon rocked a dramatic hat and sunglasses from her own collaboration with Linda Farrow Projects.
(Charles Krupa / AP)
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Ring in the new

Lady Gaga and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg share a kiss as they celebrate the beginning of the new year at New Year's Eve 2012 in Times Square on Jan. 1, 2012.
(Jemal Countess / Getty Images)
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It's her department

Lady Gaga and designer Nicola Formichetti pose for a photo after cutting the ribbon opening Gaga's Workshop at Barneys in New York on Nov. 21, 2011.
(Jemal Countess / WireImage)
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And a Bambi to boot

Lady Gaga poses after receiving the International Pop award during the Bambi ceremony in Wiesbaden, Germany, on Nov. 10, 2011. The Bambis are the main German media awards.
(Daniel Roland / AFP - Getty Images)
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She got her MTV

She's got the spins

Lady Gaga performs onstage during the MTV Europe Music Awards live show at at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Nov. 6, 2011.
(Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images)
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Promises, promises

Lady Gaga poses during a news conference in Taipei, Taiwan, on July 4, 2011. The singer promised her fans that she would hold an Asian concert tour next year, after her first performance in Taiwan sparked stronger-than-expected response from local fans.
(Sam Yeh / AFP - Getty Images)
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Where to start with this outfit?

'Born This Way'

Lady Gaga's second full-length studio album, "Born This Way," was released in May 2011. Online retailer Amazon was overwhelmed with demand for the album on its release day, when it sold for just 99 cents.
(Interscope records via Reuters)
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Kiss from a fan

A fan blows a kiss to the camera as she waits in line outside an album-signing event for Lady Gaga's new release "Born This Way" at Best Buy in New York City on Monday, May 23, 2011.
(Jessica Rinaldi / Reuters)
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Love in her eyes

What to wear, and what not to wear

Singer Lady Gaga is as well-known for her outrageous costumes as for her music. Here, she performs at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, March 22, 2011.
(Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images Contributor)
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Entrance of the egg

Lady Gaga made headlines for entering the 2011 Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011inside a giant egg. She later claimed she spent days in the egg prior to the awards, but others said she was never inside it for that long.
(Danny Moloshok / Reuters)
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Breaking out of the egg

Talk about 'Fame'

Lady Gaga accepts her award for best pop vocal album for "Fame Monster" at the 2011 Grammys. "Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart," she said.
(Lucy Nicholson / Reuters)
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Say cheese

Lady Gaga takes a photo with her phone while introducing her Grey Label product line during the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011.
(Steve Marcus / Reuters)
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Bridging the generations

She's got a wild hair

Lady Gaga performs at The Oak Room in New York's Plaza Hotel wearing almost nothing except a cape made of hair and fishnet stockings on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010. She had been invited to the stage by the house jazz band.
(Daniel Shapiro / Splash News)
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Flying the flag

Lady Gaga suited up to speak at a rally in support of repealing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gay service members, in Portland, Maine, on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010.
(Pat Wellenbach / AP)
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Meat Lady Gaga

Singer Lady Gaga horrified PETA and some viewers when she wore a dress, hat and boots made from meat to accept the video of the year award during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 12, 2010 in Los Angeles. Some thought it was cleverly designed fabric, but the designer later revealed that the dress was in fact made of real meat.
(Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
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Sharp mind

Don't touch her head! Lady Gaga wore a black gown and a pointy headdress to accept the award for best pop video for "Bad Romance" at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010 in Los Angeles. In background are presenters Amber Riley, Cory Monteith, and Jane Lynch, of the cast of "Glee."
(Matt Sayles / AP)
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Topped off

Lady Gaga wore multiple outfits to the 2010 VMAs, but she accepted the award for best female video for 'Bad Romance' from presenter Ellen Degeneres while clad in a Victorian-style gown, Mohawk-style headdress, and a blue-and-white wig.
(Mike Blake / Reuters)
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Stripping down

Crowd surfing

Lady Gaga reveals a lot while jumping into the crowd during a performance by Semi Precious Weapons at Lollapalooza at Grant Park on Aug. 6, 2010 in Chicago.
(Roger Kisby / Getty Images)
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Keep a stain stick handy

Strike a pose

Lady Gaga poses with a large Polaroid picture of herself at the MIT Art Museum in Cambridge, Mass. The photo will be added to the 10,000 artifacts from Polaroid’s 73-year history that the company donated to the MIT Museum in May. Lady Gaga is Polaroid's new creative director, tasked with introducing Polaroid to a new generation.
(AP)
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Fire when ready

Lady Gaga on the cover of Rolling Stone's June 25, 2010 issue. In an interview, the pop star talked about the breakup that inspired her transformation from Stefani Germanotta to Gaga, her complex relationship with her father and the music on her next album. Lady Gaga told Rolling Stone art is life and not being fierce isn't an option: 'When I wake up in the morning, I feel just like any other insecure 24-year-old girl,' she says. 'Then I say, 'B*tch, you're Lady Gaga, you get up and walk the walk today.'
(Rolling Stone via EPA)
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Damn Yankees

Lady Gaga attends a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets on June 18, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in New York. Lady Gaga apparently crashed the New York Yankees’ clubhouse, according to the Huffington Post, which caused a disruption mostly because the Yankees lost the game.
(Al Bello / Getty Images)
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Dazzling Nottingham

Lady GaGa performs at the Trent FM Arena on May 27, 2010 in Nottingham, England. Lady Gaga started the latest UK leg of her Monster Ball Tour at the Nottingham Trent Arena. During the emotional show, Gaga broke down in tears during 'Brown Eyes' which she dedicated to her ill grandfather.
(Ollie Millington / Getty Images )
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Constellation of stars

Lady Gaga (third from left) was joined by (from left) Sting, Debbie Harry, Elton John, Shirley Bassey and Bruce Springsteen in peforming "Don't Stop Believing" during the 21st birthday celebration of the Rainforest Fund at Carnegie Hall in New York on May 13, 2010.
(Lucas Jackson / Reuters)
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'Monster' hits

Idol-ing about

Lady Gaga performed at the American Idol Season 9 Top 5 to 4 Elimination Show on May 5, 2010 in Los Angeles. She later criticized "Idol" for "chopping up" her performance in editing.
(Frank Micelotta / PictureGroup via AP)
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Pearl jam

Bedecked with pearls, even on her face, Lady Gaga attends the amfAR New York Gala co-sponsored by M.A.C. Cosmetics to Kick Off Fall 2010 Fashion Week at Cipriani 42nd Street on Feb. 10, 2010 in New York City.
(Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images)
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Ice queen

Lady Gaga's ensembles -- including this icy number --stuck to a futuristic theme at the 2010 Grammy Awards, where the singer walked away with two of the coveted trophies.

The pop sensation is known for her catchy dance music and eccentric style, ranging from pantless getups to blinding face masks.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
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Pause for reflection

Hairy situation

Singer Lady Gaga sports a hat made of her own teased out hair for her appearance at the Polaroid booth after being named the company's chief creative officer at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nev., on Jan. 7, 2010.
(Andrew Gombert / EPA)
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Tied up in a bow

No need for accessories when you can just rock the hairbow like Lady Gaga did for her performance at the launch of music video site VEVO on Dec. 8, 2009 in New York City.
(Theo Wargo / Getty Images)
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Strong shouldered

Lady Gaga attends a CD signing at Best Buy on Nov. 23, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The 23-year-old New Yorker was bombarded with so many fans — some who waited days outside to catch a glimpse of the star — that she ordered them $1,000 worth of Papa John's pizza.
(Kristian Dowling / Getty Images)
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In the nude

Clad in a complicated bodysuit, Lady Gaga performed at the 2009 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Nov. 22, 2009. As her dramatic performance concluded, her piano was set ablaze and violins were smashed.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
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Funny face

Lady Gaga smiles awkwardly during the 184th edition of the TV show "Wetten, dass..?" (German for "Wanna Bet..?") on Nov. 7, 2009 in Braunschweig, Germany. During the show, the singer showed off an arm tattoo of a poem by German writer Rainer Maria Rilke.
(Jochen Luebke / AFP - Getty Images)
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More than just a unique face

Lady Gaga marched for gay rights at the National Equality March in Washington, where thousands of gay and lesbian activists converged on the White House and Capitol demanding civil rights protections in all 50 states.

"If we see ourselves as free and equal people, then we need to act as free and equal people," the singer said in a statement. "Lend your voice and demand to be heard."
(Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA)
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Clad in black

Lady Gaga covered John Lennon's legendary "Imagine" during the 13th Annual National Dinner of the Human Right Campaign on Oct. 10, 2009 in Washington, DC.

Before her performance, Lady Gaga was introduced by President Barack Obama. "It's a privilege to be here tonight to open for Lady Gaga," the President said. "I've made it."
(Alex Wong / Getty Images)
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Hair-raising

Lady Gaga wore a furry, see-through creation to the Billboard Women in Music brunch, where she received the "Rising Star" award on Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 in New York.

"Lady Gaga is one of those rare examples of a truly unique artist with mass appeal," says Bill Werde, Editorial Director of Billboard. "The whole world is waiting to see what her next outrageous but brilliant move or style will be."
(Evan Agostini / AP)
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For the frill of it

Lady Gaga poses for pictures at a New York press conference announcing Heartbeats by Lady Gaga, the latest addition to the Beats by Dr. Dre family of headphones from Monster Cable, on Sept. 30, 2009.
(Peter Kramer / AP)
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Take a spike

Lady Gaga fuses several different styles together while performing at the launch of V Magazine's V61 issue on Sept. 14, 2009 in New York City.
(Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images)
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Minnie me

Lady Gaga sported lacy headgear at an MTV Video Music Awards after party at Avenue on Sept. 13, 2009 in New York City.
(Shareif Ziyadat / Getty Images)
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Thigh high

Lady Gaga stands backstage with the best new artist award at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, Sept. 13, 2009.

Of her pantless style, the singer told Rolling Stone magazine: "My grandmother is basically blind, but she can make out the lighter parts, like my skin and hair. She says, 'I can see you, because you have no pants on.' So I’ll continue to wear no pants so that my grandma can see me.”
(Lucas Jackson / Reuters)
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Face-framing

Beyonce and Lady Gaga, in an austere white headpiece, pose together at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Sept. 13, 2009.
(Frank Micelotta / Picturegroup)
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Crowning moment

Lady Gaga, dressed in a cherry-red lace dress with matching mask, accepts the award for best new artist at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Halfway through her acceptance speech, the singer stripped off her mask and thorny crown to address the crowd.
(Gary Hershorn / Reuters)
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Platinum perfection

Lady Gaga makes a heart gesture during her appearance at IFA, the world's largest trade fair for consumer electronics and electrical home appliances, in Berlin, on Sept. 7, 2009. The New York-born singer, styled in a dramatic bob cut, presented headphone products by the company Monster.
(Gero Breloer / AP)
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